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IMPROVBD Boor Tara WILLIAM AND A. G. KELSEY, OF DELAVAN, WISCONSIN.

I Letters Patent No. 59,842, dated November 20, 18 66.

SPEGIFIGA'I'I'ON- T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY-CQNCERN:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM and A. Gr. KELSEY, of Delavan, in the county of Walworth, and Stateof Wisconsin, have invented a new and improved Boot-Tree, andwe do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a partial longitndinal section.

Figure 2 is across-section in the line :t x.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The nature o'f this invention consists in a new and improved construction of a boot-tree, which renders it more convenient andpowerful for general use in stretching, Shaping, and finishing boots. I

Upon a bench, A, is secnred a stont, npright block, B, on one side of which, in a line with the bench, is attached a centre, O, by means of a pivot end at the base, which passes through and tnrns in the block, B. The centre, O, diifers from ordinary centres in its parallel form and independent construction, permitting the application toy it of any common boot-tree, D D, back and front. It is also slotted down the middle from the bottom of the tree to about half way up the calf of the boot leg, as shown in fig. 1, in which slot are pivoted at one end two stretchers, a' a, which have a close V shape and open outwards at the foot of the boot-tree, by means of a'plunger orfollower, c, that lies between them, and is connected with and operated by a rod, d, which passes through the centre, C, to the opposite side of the block, B, where it connects with one arm of a knee lever, E, which has its fulcrum on a pin, e, on one side of the bench, A. The other arm of the lever E is connected by 'a lifting rod,f, with a treadle, F, hnng on a bar supported by the legs under the bench.

The treadle F hasa catch q on the outer end, which worksin a rack h to hold the stretchers a a open when they are operated. I

The upper arm of the lever E is connected with the top of the block B by a spiral spring, z, which expands when the treadle F is depressed for opening the stretchers a a, by drawing the follower, c, towa-rd their point of connection, and contracts when the treadle is released, thus forcing the follower, c, back, and relieving the pressure of stretchers a a from the boot-tree D D on both sides. The boot-tree is attached to the centre O by slipping the front and back parts upon pins, k k, set in the middle part of the centre, and also against a smallI guide, Z l, which fits in a groove made in their upper euds; the heel and foot of the tree are also connected by a small and powerfnl spiral spring, m, which is sunk fiush in the bottom end, and so attached as-to be taken out It will be seen from this description that when the treadle is up, the boot-tree will be drawn together by the spring m, and will lie close upon the centre C, and allow a boot to go i on the tree readily, and that when the treadle is depressed by the foot, there will be a powerful \1ever purchase which will draw the follower C up between the stretchers a a, and by thus opening. them force out-the sides of the boot-tree for stretching, Shaping, and finishing a boot as required. i

The machine is not confined in its application to finished. boots, but may be employed advantageously for crimping and stretching tops before they are'bottomed. i

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The independent centre C, and pivoted stretchers a a, in combination with the 'follower c and rod d; all arranged as herein described, and adapted to operate upon a boot-tree as set forth. i

' WM, KELSEY,

A. Gr. KELSEY.

Witnesses:

NEwroN McGRAw, A. B. CHANDEB. 

